NORWICH WRITERS’ CIRCLE PROGRAMME 2023-2024
In-person meetings: THE CHANTRY HALL, CHANTRY ROAD, NORWICH NR2 1QZ
Online meetings: Teams
Meetings are from 7.30 – 9.30 pm on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, September to July
5th September 2023 at Chantry Hall
“Speed Dating” Social Event
We open the season with a “Speed Dating” event at Chantry Hall. Nothing romantic, simply an opportunity for members to meet each other, and spend a few minutes discussing their writing lives in face-to-face encounters. Light refreshments of tea, coffee, and biscuits will be served.
19th September – Online
Writing Exercises to Strengthen Your Writing
Join us for an evening of writing exercises designed to enhance your writing skills and boost your creativity. Whether you’re new to creative writing or more experienced, this event is perfect for you!
During this interactive workshop, you’ll have the opportunity to engage in various writing exercises that will help you refine you dialogue, characterisation, pace, and other crucial aspects of your story. Our experienced facilitators will guide you through each exercise, providing tips and feedback along the way.
Whatever genre you write in, this event will equip you with the tools and techniques to become a more confident and effective writer. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to strengthen your writing abilities and connect with fellow writers. Grab your pen and paper, and join us from the comfort of your own home.
This workshop is £6 for guests, or free to members. Guests will have access to the recording of the event for 2 weeks. Members have access for as long as they are members.
3rd October at Chantry Hall
Prize Gala for the Olga Sinclair 2023
The deadline for the 2023 Olga Sinclair Prize was 31st July 2023. Now it’s time to hear the results. Adjudicators Susan K Burton and Jo Wilde return to announce the winners of the Olga Sinclair 2023. The theme for the 2023 competition was ‘The Sea’. Light refreshments will be served. Finalists will be informed via email and invited to attend. Join us to see which stories won and hear our judges’ verdict.
17th October – Online
The Past Search Prize for Non-Fiction
Critically acclaimed song writer Georgia Shackleton sets the brief for the Past Search for Non Fiction.
Brief: Write a folk song (lyrics only) up to 40 lines related to a person or event in Norfolk’s history. Well-known subjects (e.g. Nelson) should be avoided. Entrants should also provide further information on the person/ event (up to 300 words)
Deadline: 16th January 2024
7th November at Chantry Hall
Writing Sprint
In honour of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), join us for a few hours of distraction-free writing. You don’t have to be taking part in NaNoWriMo. If you have something you need to work on, come along and join us.
Whether you’re trying to write a few more pages, work on an outline, or get some editing done, join us and make some progress, all while enjoying a cuppa and piece of cake.
21st November – Online
Guided Editing Session
Kathy of Fine Tune Your Fiction, a professional editing service, runs us step by step through whipping manuscripts into shape. Tighten up your work and learn some fundamentals of self-editing.
5th December at Chantry Hall
Writing Non-Fiction – Panel
We are joined by successful non-fiction authors Gill Blanchard, Phyllida Scrivens, and Helen Murray to discuss and answer question on writing non-fiction. Do you want to know how to get started? Do you have questions about research? Or how to get inspiration? Ask our experienced panellists.
December (exact date TBC) – venue to be determined
NWC Christmas Social
NWC members’ Christmas party. Partners and friends welcome. Details TBA.
16th January 2024 – Online
The Cooper Prize
Kathy Joy, published horror and sci-fi author and professional editor, sets the brief for the Cooper Prize.
Brief: Write a ghost short story (2000 words max) with a strong male protagonist.
Word Limit: 2000 words
Format: Short story
It can be set in any time – present day, the past, or even a sci-fi ghost story set in the future.
It can also take place anywhere – a classic haunted house, or a more unusual location such as a haunted supermarket or a space station.
The only things your story must have is a strong male character as the protagonist, and a ghost (it is a ghost story after all).
Deadline: 20th February 2024
Results: 2nd April 2024
6th February – Chantry Hall (In-person)
Georgia Shackleton returns to give the results of the Past Search Prize for Non-Fiction.
20th February – Online
Olga Sinclair Launch Party
Crime Writer Ross Greenwood joins us to help set the Olga Sinclair Prize 2024 (theme TBC). Learn what our adjudicators are looking for in a winning entry, and receive tips and advice on crafting a suitable short story, all from the comfort of your own home.
The Olga Sinclair Prize is a short story competition open worldwide.
Deadline: July 31st 2024
Theme: TBC
Word Limit: 2000
The results will be announced on 1st October 2024.
5th March – Chantry Hall (In-person)
Workshop: Perspective with Bethany Wright
This session explores the merits of different perspectives (1st person, close 3rd, omniscient) and practises changing the psychic distance (how close we are inside a character’s head). Participants are given a writing prompt to describe the same setting from two different perspectives, to explore how characters would view it differently.
19th March – Online
Guided Editing Session
Kathy of Fine Tune Your Fiction, a professional editing service, runs us step by step through whipping manuscripts into shape. Tighten up your work and learn some fundamentals of self-editing.
2nd April – Chantry Hall (In-Person)
Results of the Cooper Prize
Kathy returns to announce the winners of the Cooper Prize.
16th April – Online
The Colin Sutton Cup for Humour
Tricia Frances sets the Colin Sutton Cup for Humour.
Brief: TBC
Deadline: 7th May 2024
Results: 4th June 2024
7th May – Chantry Hall (In-Person)
In-Person Write-in
Whether you’re trying to write a few more pages, work on an outline, or get some editing done, join us and make some progress, all while enjoying a complimentary cuppa and piece of cake.
21st May – Online
Open Mic Night
Bring along a piece of up to 1000 words to be read out loud. It might be you’re looking for feedback, or it might just be you’re excited to share something you’re working on. Either way, bring an extract of up to 1000 words and read it out.
4th June – Chantry Hall (In-Person)
Results of the Colin Sutton Cup for Humour
Tricia Frances returns to give the results of the Colin Sutton Cup for Humour.
18th June – Online
Online Workshop: Who is your target audience?
Whether you’re planning on being traditionally published, or taking the self-publishing route, having an idea of your target audience can be beneficial for many reasons.
It can help you find the right publisher or agent. It can make pitching to agents and publishers easier. It’s also essential when it comes to coming up with a marketing plan. But how do you figure out who your target audience is?
As writers, we usually just write the story and don’t stop to think about who the book is for. Well, this workshop will help you figure out who your target audience might be.
2nd July – Chantry Hall (In-Person)
AGM
The Annual General Meeting of the Norwich Writers Circle.
Norwich Writers' Circle 